Green Shiels delivers for Hibs

Dean Shiels has grabbed his chance at Hibs after being spotted languishing in Arsenals reserve side, writes Steven Saunders

WHILE Hibs’ Scottish youngsters have grabbed headlines and national squad call-ups this season, there is another brand of player that has been overlooked in Tony Mowbray’s Easter Road rebuilding. For every Derek Riordan, Garry O’Connor and Steven Whittaker, there is a David Murphy, Craig Rocastle or Antonio Murray — players who have failed to push their way into an English first team and just want to play football. At the forefront of this group is Dean Shiels.

The Northern Ireland under-21 cap has become a significant force for Hibs. The 20-year-old forward plugged away in Arsenal’s youth and reserve teams, but never got a glimpse of the Premiership, nor was he likely to at a Highbury laden with attacking flair. So Mowbray approached Shiels last summer, having spotted him in a youth team game against Ipswich, where he was coaching.